Measurement of the differential charm production cross-section of protons on a thick target using pixel detectors (CharmDXSPix)

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Markus Cristinziani
• Subject Area: Nuclear and Elementary Particle Physics, Quantum Mechanics, Relativity, Fields
• Term: since 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 415102982

The Standard Model of particle physics describes the smallest particles and the forces that act upon each other excellently. All measurements in the laboratory confirm the validity of this theory. However, there are indications, especially through observations of the Universe, that there must be extensions of this theory, e.g. the existence of further, not yet discovered particles or interactions. These extensions are being tested today, for example, at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, but have not yet been found. Alternatively, very weak, novel forces can be found if sufficiently large data sets are collected – even at lower collision energies. Future beam-dump experiments may hold the key. In such experiments, mainly charm hadrons are produced, which can decay into novel particles. The proposed project aims to measure the probability of the production of charm hadrons. The novelty is that two completely different detectors are used together: emulsions and pixel detectors. A major challenge is the interaction of these two components.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants